Coin detecting apparatus



Sept. 23, 1941 J. F. LINDBERG COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23,1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 If a:

p 1941- J. F. LINDBERG I 2,256,486

COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 15/061222:Jb/wd f .ZIL 12616659 @& @y d mw p 1941. J. F. LINDBERG 2,256,486

' COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 67205563% @z r 772001 Mi Patented Sept. 23, 1941 CGEN DETECTENG APEPARATUS JohnF. Lindberg, Chicago, Ell.

Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,003

(61. ice-res) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin detector.

Coin controlled machines in use today possess generally the disadvantageof being susceptible to operation by crudely and cheaply made slugs orfake coins inserted 'by unscrupulous persons. The owners or proprietorsof such machines have suffered considerable losses in revenue because ofthe increasingly large numbers of such slugs fraudulently employed, toobtain goods or services without payment. This cheating ofcoincontrolled machines has, in certain sections of the country,-andparticularly in the larger cities, become a more or less popular pastimeor form of amusement to otherwise honest and scrupulous citizens. It hasbecome so prevalent in certain sections that the telephone companieshave been compelled to place on the coin receptacle of each pay stationbox a member fitted with various prongs, slots and the like, whichprevent the insertion of any device save a complementally shaped andslotted slug which can only be purchased from an attendant or from aclerk in the store in which the station is located. The successfuloperation of a system such as this requires that the fitted members andslugs for each pay station, or group of stations at one location, bedifierent from the fitted members and slugs for all other stations orgroups in that vicinity. The cost of manufacturing and handling theneoessarily large number of different receptacles and slugs increasesthe costof the service to the con pany. The necessity of obtaining slugsand the difficulties attendant upon an attempt to insert one of thoseslugs in its receptacle are sources of considerable annoyance to andloss of time by the customer. revious attempts to design means to selectslugs or spurious checks from coins for the purpose ofpreventing thefraudulent operation of coin-controlled machines have resulted inmechanisms which, because of their complexity, their costliness andtheir relative inefficiency, have failed to solve commercially theproblem of fraud prevention. In order to meet this problem, it isessential that the coin detector mechanism be of relativelysimpleconstruc tion .and of an efficiency such that the savings effectedthereby are more than sufficient to sustain its cost of .manufacture andinstallation.

It is accordingly .an-object of this invention to provide in coincontrolled mechanism or machines, a simplifiedefficient and highiysensitive coin detector which rejects slugs of every description andpasses only coins or" the proper sizeand weight to the controlmechanism, thereby preventing such fraudulent manipulation or cheatingof the machine or mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simplified andrelatively inexpensive coin detector which is capable of sorting coinsfrom slugs of greater or lesser diameter, rejecting the slugs, andpassing the coins to a mechanism intended to be operated by those coins.

It is another object of applicants invention to provide a compact andsimplified coin detector which is capable of sorting coins from slugs ofgreater or lesser thickness, rejecting the, slugs and passing the coins.

It is a further object of this invention to .provide a peculiarly simpleand efficient coin detector which is capable of sorting coins from slugsof greater or lesser weight, rejecting the slugs, and passing the coins.to a coin control mechanism to be operated thereby.

It is a further object of this invention to ,provide a highly simplifiedand efiicient coindetector which is capable of separating coinsfrom'slugs which diiier from normal coins in diameter, thickness orweight, rejecting the slugs and passing the coins to the coin operatedmechanism.

It has heretofore been proposed to weigh tokens or checks by means ofscales or balances across which the token or check rolls or bouncesduring the weighing operation and from which it is directed along one ofseveral paths depending on the deflection of the scale. In use it hasbeen found that suchmeans are not sufficiently sensitive to make apractical separation of tokens according to weight because thepercentage of slugs passed by such means is relatively high. Applicanthas found that the rolling of the token on the weighing means during theweighing operation materially interferes with the accuracy of theoperation.

A further. object of applicants invention,

therefore, is to provide a token or check weightdetermining andselecting mechanism, which is more sensitive, than any heretofore knownand one inwhich the token remains stationary relative to the weighingmeans during the weighing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in greater sensitivity,whereby all remaining tokens which difier in weight from the weight ofthe true coin by any amount in excess of the standard weight-toleranceof coins are absolutely and positively rejected.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism forweighing and directing tokens, an extremely sensitive pendulum directingthe tokens along different predetermined paths in accordance with theamplitude of oscillation of the pendulum.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector havingaweight determining and selecting means, size measuring and selectingmeans for receiving the operating tokens and for preventing passage of atoken of a size different from a true coin to the weight determiningmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector havingan operating handle, means responsive to the size of the token insertedin the detector for clamping the handle against movement and preventingthe insertion of an over or under sized token.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector havingan operating handle, means responsive to the size of the token insertedin the detector for clamping the handle against movement in a directionto insert the token into the detector, but allowing movement of thehandle in the opposite direction to deliver an over or under sized tokento the reject channel for return to the operator.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of one illustrative embodiment of the inventionwhen considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the coin detector embodying theapplicants invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical elevation showing the side of the coindetector opposite from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation of the coin detector with one cover plateremoved;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the operation of a portion of themechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation of the upper part of the mechanism with acover plate removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 11 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig, 7 with a token of a smaller size;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with a token of larger size;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line l0l 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with a token of smaller size;

Fig, 12 and Fig. 13 are vertical elevations showing the operation of aportion of the mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of themechanism;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line lG-l 6 ofFig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a View in exploded perspective of certain elements of Figs,15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line |8I8 ofFig. 3;

Figs. 19 to 24 are detailed views in elevation showing the operation ofa portion of the mechanism, and

Figs. 25, 26 and 27 are diagrammatic sketches illustrating the operatingprinciples of a portion of the mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the coin detector comprises a frame 2 having abody portion 4, a front face 6, and an upper face 8 formed by flangesextending oppositely from the body 4. One side of the body 4 is milledto provide a guideway I0, a recess l2 and coin directing channels l4, l6and I8. A plurality of operating levers or slides 20, 22, 24 and 26 areslidably mounted in the guideway Ill, and the levers 22, 24 and 26extend outwardly therefrom and are supported in an L-shaped bracket 28formed integrally with the front face 6 of the frame. A cover plate 30,secured to one side of the body 4, has a forwardly projecting portion 32passing through an aperture 34 in the face plate 6, and secured to thebracket 28, to form therewith a housing for the outer end of theoperating levers 22, 24 and 26, The lever 26 is the main operating leverand carries at its outer end a laterally extending portion 36 forming ahandle by which the lever 26 is to be operated. The lever 22 is rivetedto the lever 24 and in its outer position extends from the outer face ofthe bracket 28 inwardly a sufficient distance to engage the forward edgeof a coin inserted between the projecting portion 32 of the cover plateand the lever 24; the portion 32, the bracket 28 and the levers 24 and26 having semi-circular grooves in their upward edges to permit theready insertion of the coin. The lever 20 is mounted in the guideway IDin alignment with the lever 22 and has a lost motion connection to thelever 24. This lost motion connection comprises a pair of lugs 38 and 40(Fig. 7) formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from the levers20 and 24 adjacent their rear edges. The lug 40 extends through a slot42 (Fig. 5) in the rear edge of the lever 20 and is connected to the lug38 by a bolt 44 (Fig. 7) passing through aligned apertures in therespective lugs. Th bolt 44 is adjusted to permit the levers 22 and 24to move rearwardly relative to the lever 28 so that a coin of the properdiameter will be clamped between the levers 20 and 22, but a token orslug of lesser diameter will not engage the forward edge of the lever28. A spring steel member 46, of V-shaped configuration, is mounted inthe recess l2 above the lever 20, and this spring bears at its upper endagainst the upper edge of the recess and at its lower edge against thelever 20 for the purpose of preventing movement of the lever 20 duringthe initial movement of the levers 22 and 24.

Lever 24 has an overload release connection to the main operating lever26. This overload release connection comprises a member 48 (Fig. 12)which has a base portion 50 riveted or otherwise secured to the lever 24adjacent its rear edge, an arm 52 extending longitudinally of the lever24 and an enlarged head 54. The head 54 has a semi-circular orelliptical aperture 56 in its outer edge. rear end with inwardlyextending flanges 58 for receiving therebetween the arm 52 of the member48, and the head 54 of this member is received in a slot 60 formed inthe lever 26 inwardly of the flanges 58. A second slot 62 of less widthis formed in the lever 26 inwardly of the slot 60 and is connectedthereto by beveled shoulders 64. A V-shaped fork 66 of spring steel hasits head 68 spring-pressed into the aperture 56 of the member 48, andthe tines of the fork are normally held apart by a spring 10 interposedtherebetween. The outer ends of the tines The lever 26 is provided atits' are provided'with cam fingers l2 whichnormall engage-the-shoulders64 and extend a slightdistance into the slot 62.

A small lever M is mounted in the recess I2 invertical alignment withthe lever 20, and is provided with a semi-circular knurled portion 16, anosel and a finger-89 directed oppositely from the nose "l8. Apin-BZpivotally secures the lever 24 to the body l, and it is to be noted thatthis pivot is eccentric to the semi-circular portion -76. An adjustablelever 84 (Fig. 2), pivotedto the outer face of the body d, is providedwith a finger 88 extending through a slot 88 in the body 4 and engagingthe finger '80 of the lever M for the purpose of pre-setting the lever14 so that the knurled portion '16 will engage the circumference of anover-size slug. The set screw til, which passes through an arcuate slotin the lever 84 and threadedly engages the outer face of the body 4,provides means for locking the lever 84 in adjusted position.

On-the side of the guideway in opposite to and in alignment with thelever 14, there is inserted a block 9! separating the channel l6 fromthe channel 14. knurled upper surface for engaging theperiphery of thetoken and causing it to rotatively engage the semi-circular portion 16of the'eccentrically mounted lever 14.

To a bracket 92 (Fig. 7) carried by the plate 3 and in alignment withthe lever or slide 20 is pivoted a lever 94. At its forward end thelever 94 is provided with a right angle finger 96 having a rearwardcurve or cam surface 93 for a purpose later to be-described.'I'he'finger 96 passes through and normally rests in an-aperture H33 inthe cover plate Bil. In the opposite end of the lever there is threadeda set screw I02 provided with a clamping nut Hi l for retaining the setscrew in adjusted position relative to the lever 95. A set screw me,which has a rounded head i 98 is threaded into the lever 95 between itspivot point and the finger 93. The usual clamping nut lid secures theset screw in adjusted position. The set screws Hi2 and I86 extendthrough suitable apertures lid and 1 I2, respectively, in the coverplate 30 in position to engage the outer face of a coin or token uponrearward movement of the levers 22, 24 and 25.

Under certain conditions the set screw I 52 must move inwardly of theouter edge of the lever or slide 223 and for this purpose the said leveror slide is provided with a longitudinal recess I I5 (Figs. 4 and 9) inhorizontal alignment with said set screw.

A leaf spring 558 of somewhat bowed configuration is seated in notchesin the cover plate 313 and engages the inner side of the lever 94 tonormally urge it in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. '7.

The mechanism heretofore described constitutes a size determining andselector mechanism which operates to pass coins of the proper size andto reject slugs of-larger or smaller size. The operation of thismechanism is as follows:

A coin or slug or other token havingbeen inserted, the handle 36 isoperated to move the lever 26 rearwardly. The motion of the lever 25 istransmitted through the shoulder $4, the fork 66 and the member is tothe lever 24 and from the lever 25 to the lever 22 which is inengagement with the forward edge of the coin'or slug.

If the token inserted is a coin of the proper diameter, the rear edge ofthe coin will engage the forward edge of the lever 2i) just before theThis block 9| is providedwith a lever 26 has moved rearwardly asufficient distance to'be connected-to the leverzll'bytheilugs 38and'dland the bolt 44. Since the movement of the lever 29 is resisted bythe spring 46, :the coin will be "efiectively :clamped between "the:levers 2iiand 22, and will thereafter be carried; past the-channel l6and to the channel M. When a coin reaches the channel Mythe spring 46will drop belowthe upper surface of theslide 20 and engage itsforward-edge, as seen in Fig.4. The spring *46 will then force the slide*20 'rearwardly relative togthe slide 24, takingup the remaining lostmotion betweensaid slides and freeing the token. The token then drops bygravity into the channel M. it is to .be noted in this connectionthattheforwardhalfof the upper edge of the lever 20 is cut away to provide arecess into which the semi-circular portion :16 of the lever i lnormally projects, and to effect a decrease in the retarding force ofthe spring =46 after the coin has passed the channel it.

If the token is of less diameter than the normal diameter of the propercoin, the lost motion between the levers 26 and #24 will be taken upbefore the rear end of the slug canconta'ct the forward edge of thelever -23; therefore, as the levers 22,24 and Ziimove rearwardly,theslugwill not be clamped between the levers :26 and 2'2, and will, ontheaction of gravity, drop into the reject channel 45.

If the token is of greater diameter than the normal diameter of theproper coin, it will be clamped between the levers 28 and 22, but beforeit reaches thechannel l4 it willengage the knurled block '9! which willcause it to rotatively engage the semi-circular portion "16 of the.eccentrically mounted 'lever 14. in rotating, the nose 'ifi'of-thelever i i willengage the-upper edge of its recess l2 (Fig. 12) causingthe slug to be jammed againsttlie knurled-edge of the block 19'! andpreventing further inward movement of the levers and slug. In order tojproteotthe apparatus against extraordinary forces which might bespitefully applied in an attempt to force a slug into the machine, theoverload releaseconnection between the :main operating lever =26 and thelever 24 has been provided. If such a force is applied-to the operatinglever -25 and this force is in excess of the retarding force exerted 'bythe forked and spring l'tLthe tines of the fork will be forcedinwardlyunder the camming action of the-shoulders 64 and fingers l 2,'asshown in Fig. 113. The'release of thefingers ii-from shoulers-ii l willpermit the leverfifi to move'rearwardly relative to the lever 24 untilthe lugs or flanges 53 engage the plate .523. In this positionof lever26, the handle 36 will be in contact with the outer edges of the bracket28 and the projecting portion 32 of the cover plate Further inwardmovement of the lever 25 is, of course, impossible.

When the token is of the proper diameter, it willpass the reject channel28, and will not engage the lever it, but if it is either thinner orthicker than the normal coin it will not "be fed to the channel i i. Ifit is thinner than the normal sizecoin, the set screw Hit may'mov-einwardly so that the spring H8 rotatesthelever 9d counterclockwise, asseen in Fig. 8, and projects the finger into an aperture 329 (Fig. 8) inthe slide 22 and further rearward movement of this slide is thereforeprevented. The latching of slide 22 also serves to latch the slides 2dand 2 5. However, upon the application .of an overloading iorce, theslide 26 can be moved relative to the slide 24-withoutafiecting'therlocked condition of the slides 22 and 24 in the mannerpreviously described. If the token is a coin of the proper thickness,the set screw I86 will hold the finger 96 of the lever 94 out ofengagement with the aperture I20 and therefore the movement of the cointo the channel I4 is not prevented. If the token is a slug thicker thana normal coin, the set screw I06 will be moved outwardly rotating thelever 94 clockwise (Fig. 9), and causing the forward edge of the setscrew I02 to pass into the slot II6 of the lever 20 and engage theforward edge of the slug. In this manner, the lever 22 and the lever 24are again latched against further inward movement.

In all cases where the slug causes the locking of the operatingmechanism against further inward movement, the slug may be fed to thereject channel I6 and the apparatus restored to normal operatingcondition by simply withdrawing the handle 36. For this purpose thelever 14 is eccentrically pivoted, the eccentric radius increasing fromthe nose 18 to the finger 80 (Fig. 12), and the leading edge of theaperture I28 (Fig. 8) is provided with a cam surface to co-act with thecam surface 98 of the finger 98.

On the side opposite the channels I4, I and I8, the body 4 is providedwith an annular flange I22 (Figs. 2 and 18) forming, with a pair ofcover plates I24 and I28, a housing for a weight-measuring orweight-determining mechanism I28. The weight-measuring or determiningmechanism I28 comprises a shaft I30 (Fig. 18) which extends from thehousing through an opening I3I in the body 4 and is mounted at itsopposite ends on substantially frictionless pivots I32 and I34. Thefrictionless pivot I32 comprises a set screw threaded through theV-shaped cover plate I 24, which, it will be noted is of substantial- 1ygreater thickness than the cover plate I28 for the purpose of providingmore substantial support for the pivot I32. This set screw is clamped inadjusted position by the usual lock nut I36 and the inner end of the setscrew is beveled to form a substantially pin-point frictionless supportfor the shaft I30. The frictionless pivot I34 is similar to pivot I32and comprises a set screw threaded through an arm I38 formed integrallywith the body 4 and extending through an aperture in the cover plate 30to permit access to the set screw for ready adjustment of the same.

On its outer end the shaft I30 carries a collar I40 in which arethreaded screws I42 and I44 (Fig. 3), and these screws threadedlyreceive small weights I46 and I48. A coin receptacle I50 is secured tothe other end of the shaft I38 and this receptacle comprises a pair ofjaws I52 and I54 (Figs. 19 to 24), and an off-set portion I56. Pivotedon the off-set portion I56 is a disc I58. The disc I58 is provided withthree annularly. spaced lugs I60 having inwardly bent outer edgesforming channels with the body of the disc for receiving a coin or slugfrom the channel I4. A pin I82 (Fig. 16) is secured to or formed on thedisc I58 adjacent its periphery and between the free ends of the jawsI52 and I54. The pin is internally threaded as at I84 and has secured toits outer edge a notched disc I86. A lever 168 is secured to the pinshaft I64 for movement relative thereto by a screw I10, and the leverI68 has an annularly bent pawl I12 engaging in the notch of the disc I66to limit the movement of the lever relative to the pin shaft. The leverI68 is substantially triangular in configuration and is enlarged at itslower pointed end to provide the weight necessary to retain the lever ina vertical position and to retain the pawl I12 in contact with one ofthe edges of the notch in the disc I66.

A weighted lever I14 (Figs. 3 and 19) is pivotally mounted in thechannel I4 and controls the delivery of tokens to the weight-measuringmechanism I28. The weighted lever is normally retained in the positionshown in Fig, 3 by stop pin I16 and its movement in a clockwisedirection is limited by a similar stop pin I18. Lever I14 directs thecoin or slug onto the disc I58 and between the jaws I52 and I54, theouter surface of the disc I58 being aligned with the edge of the base ofthe channel I4, as best shown in Fig. 18. The channel I4 is separatedfrom the channel I8 by a portion I of the body 4 and by a pawl I82aligned with portion I80 and fixedly secured to the body 4 by a setscrew I84. At its lower end the channel I4 is provided with an openingI86 extending through the base of the channel; The portion I80 and thepawl I82 extend upwardly and outwardly from the base of the channel andare so inclined as to direct any slug in the-bottom of the channel I4into the opening I86 (Fig. 3).

The channel I6 is separated from the channel I8 by a portion I88 of thebody 4 upstanding from the base of the channel and by a pawl I90 securedto the body 4 by a set screw I92. The channel I6 terminates at its lowerend in an opening I94 (Fig. 3) which extends through the base of thechannel. The right hand surface of the pawl I90 is so curved as todirect any slug which engages that surface into the opening I94.

In the side of the body 4, opposite to the channels I4 and I6, there iscut a way or guide I96 (Fig. 18) terminating at one end in alignmentwith the opening I86, and registering at its other end with an opening I98 formed in the face plate 6, adjacent its lower edge (see Figs. 2 and3). Through the opening I98 are returned all slugs or coins which arenot of the proper diameter, thickness or weight as a normal operatingcoin.

A plurality of annularly spaced pins 200, 202 and 204 are secured to thebody 4 and extend into the way or guide I96 in positions to engage theweighted lever I68, as shown in Figs. 21 to 24. A cover plate 206 (Fig.18) closes the way I96, and this cover plate is secured to the body 4 inany convenient manner, and has a laterally extending flange 208 closingthe bottom of the housing formed by the flange I22 and the cover platesI24 and I26.

In describing the operation of the size-determining mechanism, it waspointed out that a coin, or slug of the proper diameter and thicknesswould be delivered to the channel I4. The operation of the mechanismthereafter described in determining differences in weight between coinsand slugs, and in delivering only coins of the proper weight to themechanism to be controlled will now be described.

From the upper end of th channel I 4, the coin or slug rolls down theinclined surface of said channel onto th weighted lever I14. If it is asubstantially underweight slug, it attains a sufficient velocity inrolling down the channel I4 to pass over the weighted lever I14 beforethat lever can be rotated clockwise by the weight of the slug asufiicient distance to check its forward movement. If it is a coin ofthe proper weight, or a slug slightly underweight, or an overweightslug, its weight will be suficient in relation to its velocity to rotatethe lever I14 a sufficient angular distance to cause the forwardmovement of the coin to be checked, and to reverse the direction ofrotation of the coin. The coin or slug then rolls from the lever llA,while rotating in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 19, onto thedisc E53, the periphery of the slug or coin engaging the lugs Hill.Because the coin or slug is rotating in the clockwisedirection, andbecause, in moving downwardly from the lever lid, it first engages theright hand one of the lugs ace, the disc i58 is rotated thereby in aclockwise direction relative to jaws E52 and I54, causing th left handlug i6?! (Figs. 19 and 20) to approach the outer end of the jaw I54 and.to assume a position wherein it is spaced from that jaw by a distanceless than the diameter of the slug or coin, as best shown in Fig. 21.The rotation of the disc E53 relative to the offset portion iEE islimited by the pins 2% and H2 which engage opposite sides of the ofi-setportion I56.

The principle of operation of the weight mease uring or determiningmechanism 528 is that of a compound pendulum (Figs. 25 to 27), of whichthe coin receptacle [5b is one weight A, the members M2, HA4, M6 and MSforming another weight B, and pivots Hi2 and E34 forming the axis ofoscillation C. As will be evident, the amplitude of oscillation of thecompound pendulum A, C, B depends upon the relative weights of members Aand B, and the length of pendulum arms AC and C-B. Assuming constantlength of the pendulum arms AC, and CB, it will be further evident thatthe greater the weight A in relation to the weight B, the greater willbe the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum and that similarly, thegreater the weight B in relation to the weight A, the lesser will be theamplitude of oscillation. If the weight B be constant, the amplitude ofoscillation of the pendulum will vary directly with the weight A. Thisis shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27. In Fig. 25 the weight A represents theweight of the receptacle i5!) when a coin of the proper weight has beeninserted therein. It will be seen that the greater weight A will causethe pendulum to oscillate counterclockwise from the rest position 13 tothe extreme position E when it will reverse its direction of oscillationand pass through a position such as F. If thependulum were free tooscillate, it would gradually come to rest at some new neutral positionwherein the weight A, times the lever arm A-C, was equal to the weight13 times the lever arm BC. In Fig. 26 the weight A represents the weightof the receptacl 59 plus that of a slug which is greater in weight thanthe weight of the proper coin. This weight is greater than the weight Aof Fig. 25 and it will be seen by a comparison of these two figures,that the extreme position E to which the pendulum will be moved underthe action of the heavier weight A is angularly advanced from theextreme position E, and that the angl of oscillation is the greater inthe case of the heavier weight of Fig. 26. In returning from the extremeposition E, the pendulum will, of course, pass through a position F,which is a slightly greater angular distance from the neutral position Dthan is the extreme position E of Fig. 25.

In Fig. 27 the weight A represents the weight of the receptacle I59 whena slug of lesser weight than the weight of the proper coin is insertedtherein. The extreme position E to which the pendulum will be movedunder this circumstance, is, of course, retarded with respect to theextreme position E of Fig. 25. The amplitude of the oscillation of thependulum with the lesser weight A is, of course, less than the amplitudeof oscillation of the pendulum of Fig. 25. In returning from the extremeposition E the pendulum will pass through some intermediate positionsuch as F. The similar intermediate position F of Fig. 25, it is to beobserved, is at a slightly greater angular distance from the normalneutral position D than is the extreme position E" of Fig. 27.

It will be evident from a comparison of Figs. 25, 26 and 27 that thependulum of Fig. 27 never occupies a position between the points F and Eof Fig. 25, and that the pendulum of Fig. 25 never occupies a positionbetween the points F and E of Fig. 26. Therefore, it will be apparentthat if the heavier weight A of Fig. 26 is removed from the pendulumwhile the pendulum is passing between the positions F and E, the heavierweight may be separated from the lighter weights; similarly, it will beevident that if the medium weight is removed from the pendulum while thependulum is positioned between points F and E' (Fig. 25), the mediumweight may be separated from thelighter weight. Inorder that the meansfor removing the lighter weight does not also remove the heavierweights, it is necessary that this removal be accomplished on thebackward swing of the pendulum, i. e., whenthe pendulum is movingclockwise from each of the positions E, E and E" to the positions F, Fand F". This is the principle of applicants weight-measuring mechanismE23.

The pin 224 is positioned to correspond to a position intermediate F, Eof Fig. 26; the pin 2&2 is placed to correspond to a position between Fand E of Fig. 25, and the pin 2221s placed to correspond to a positionabove the position E of Fig. 27. The weighted lever 55%, which has thelost'motion connection H68 and M2 to the disc E58, co-operates with thepins 2%, 282 and- 284. to release the tokens from the coin receptacle858 only during the backward swing of the pendulum. For this purpose,the lever N58 is free to ratchet over the pins 2%, 282 and 2% during thecounterclockwise rotation of the coin receptacle, the pawl H2 movingfreely in the notch of disc 55 from its normal position in engagementwith the upper edge or" the notch. Upon the return swing of thependulum, the rear edge of the lever we will be engaged by one of thepins 2B0, 2G2 and 2st and the lever Will be rotated counterclockwise, asseen in Figs. 15, and

21 to 24. The lever I62 will rotate the disc I58 counterclockwise andrelease the coin from the coin receptacle ififi, as shown in Figs. 22,23 and 2.4. If the token inserted into the coin receptacle IE6 is a coinof the proper weight, the pendulum, of which this receptacle forms apart, will begin oscillation, and the coin receptacle l-tfl coins mayvpass. in the usual and conventional manner to themachine to becontrolled by said coins.

If a slugheavier than the proper coin is fed" to thecoin receptacle, thependulum, of which the co n receptacle. is a part, will be swung to aposition somewhat to the right of the position shown in Fig. 23, andupon the backward swing from this extreme position, the dog 568 will beengaged and rotated by pin 2% to release the heavier slug from the coinreceptacle. The heavier slug will be guided by the right hand surface(Fig. 3) of the pawl I90, and by the portion I88 of the body 4 into theaperture I94 at the bottom of the channel IE. From the aperture I94 theslug will pass down the way or guide 596 and out of the opening I98.

If the token is lighter in weight than the proper coin, the coinreceptacle will be moved to an extreme position wherein the dog IE8 issomewhere between the pins 20d and 2912 (Fig. 24). Upon backward swingof the coin receptacle, the dog will be engaged by the pin 200 torelease the coin, which then falls down the inclined surface of the pawlI82 and the portion I86 of the body 4 into the opening I85, and from theopening I86 it passes down the way I99 and out of the opening I98.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the applicanthas provided an especially eiiective coin detector for rejecting slugsof every description and passing only coins of the proper size andweight to a coin control mechanism, thereby preventing fraudulentmanipulation or cheating of the coin controlled machine.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the: invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a coin detector, token receiving oscillatory means, the amplitudeof oscillation of which is determined by the weight of the token, meansoperable by a token, in moving onto said oscillatory means, for clampingthe token to the oscillatory means, means positioned at spaced pointsalong the path of movement of said oscillatory means for operating saidclamping means to release tokens at said spaced points in accordancewith the weight of said tokens, and means for passing from theoscillatory means tokens of the proper weight in one direction andrejecting tokens of different weights in another direction.

2. In a coin detector, means for providing a first channel for passingtokens of a predetermined weight, and a second channel spaced from thefirst for returning tokens of different weights, oscillatory means forreceiving tokens and operable by said tokens arcuate distances whichvary in accordance with the weights of the tkens, means operable by thetokens for clamping the same to said oscillatory means, means positionedat a predetermined spaced point along the arc of movement of saidoscillatory means for operating said clamping means to release a tokenof a predetermined weight from said oscillatory means and direct thesame to said first channel, and means positioned at other predeterminedspaced points along the arc of movement of said oscillatory means foroperating said clamping means to release tokens of weights differingfrom said predetermined weight and direct the same to said returningchannel.

3. In a coin detector, an operating channel and a rejecting channel andweighing means adapted to receive tokens for directing the same intosaid channels in accordance with their respective weights, said weighingmeans comprising a pendulum having a token receptacle, means operable bya token for clamping the same in said receptacle, means carried by saidclamping means and operable upon backward oscillation of the pendulum torelease the token from said token receptacle, means positioned at apredetermined spaced point along an arc of movement of said pendulum foroperating said releasing means to direct a token of a predeterminedweight into said operating channel, and means at other predeterminedspaced points along said arc of movement of said pendulum for operatingsaid releasing means to direct tokens of greater and less weight intosaid rejecting channel.

4. In a coin detector, token directing means providing an operatingchannel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum having a token receptacle,clamping means mounted in said receptacle for movement relative to saidpendulum, said clamping means being operable by a token for clamping thesame in said receptacle, releasing means carried by said clamping meansand operable upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to release thetoken from the token receptacle, said releasable means being mounted onsaid clamping means for movement relative thereto upon forwardoscillation of the pendulum, means positioned at a predetermined spacedpoint along an arc of movement'of said pendulum for operating saidreleasing means to direct a token of a predetermined weight into saidoperating channel and means at other predetermined spaced points alongsaid are of movement of said pendulum for operating said releasing meansto direct tokens of greater and less weight into said rejecting channel.

5. In a coin detector, token directing means providing a receivingchannel, an operating channel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum havinga token receptacle, a counter-weighted lever between the receivingchannel and a portion of the rejecting channel, said counterweightedlever having a surface aligned with the receiving channel across whichsurface tokens outside a predetermined weight range pass to therejecting channel, said counter-weighted lever being disposed above thependulum and pivotal under the weight of a token within thepredetermined weight range to cause such token to roll in apredetermined direction of rotation into the token receptacle, meanspivotally mounted on the pendulum and pivoted relative to the pendulumby the rolling token to clamp the token to the pendulum, meanspositioned at spaced points along an arc of movement of said pendulumfor operating said clamping means to release tokens at said spacedpoints in accordance with the weight of said tokens, means for receivingtokens of a predetermined weight from said pendulum for directing thesame to said operating channel, and means receiving tokens of weightsdiffering from said predetermined weight for directing said tokens tosaid rejecting channel.

6. In a coin detector, a first channel for pass: ing tokens of apredetermined weight, .a second channel for rejecting tokens ofdifferent weights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to forma token receptacle, means for causing tokens to roll into saidreceptacle, a member rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having anannular token receiving channel Within said opening, an edge of saidchannel being disposed within said opening to engage the rim of thetoken rolling into the receptacle to cause rotation of said memberrelative to the-pendulum whereby a portion of the channel closes themouth of the opening forming the token receptacle to clamp the token inthe receptacle, means positioned at a predetermined point along the arcof movement of said pendulum for rotating said member relative to thependulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouth of thetoken receptacle, whereby to release a token of predetermined weightfrom said pendulum and direct the same to said first channel, and meanspositioned at other predetermined points spaced from the first pointalong the arc of movement of said pendulum for rotating said memberrelative to the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel fromthe mouth of the token receptacle whereby to release tokens, of weightsdiffering from said predetermined weight and direct the same to saidsecond channel. i

'7. In a coin detector, a first channel for passing tokens of apredetermined weight, a second channel for rejecting tokens of differentweights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to form a tokenreceptacle, means for causmg tokens to roll into said receptacle, amember rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having an annular tokenreceiving channel within said opening, an edge of said channel beingdisposed Within said opening to engage the rim of the token rolling intothe receptacle to cause rotation of said member relative to the pendulumwhereby a portion of the channel closes the mouth of the opening formingthe token receptacle to clamp the token in the receptacle, a dog carriedby said rotary member and operable upon backward oscillation of thependulum to rotate said member to withdraw the portion of the channelfrom the mouth of the opening formed in the token receptacle, said dogbeing shiftably mounted on said rotary member for movement relativethereto upon forward oscillation of the pendulum, means positioned at apredetermined point along an arc of movement of said pendulum forengaging and operating said dog to rotate said rotary member whereby torelease a token of a predetermined weight from said pendulum and directthe same into said first channel, and means at other predeterminedpoints spaced along the arc of movement of said pendulum for engagingand operating said dog to rotate said member whereby to release tokensof greater and less weightfrom said pendulum and direct said tokens intosaid second channel.

8. In a coin detector, a counterweighted lever, means causing receivedtokens to roll by gravity onto said counterweighted lever, thecounterweighting of said lever being such as to permit tokens differinga substantial amount from a predetermined weight range to pass over saidlever and to cause pivotal movement of the lever upon receipt of tokenswithin the predetermined weight range whereby to caus the latter tokensto roll therefrom in a given direction of rotation and oppositely to thetokens not within the predetermined weight range, an oscillatory memberpositioned to receive tokens within the predetermined weight range fromsaid counterweighted lever and operable by said tokens arouate distanceswhich vary according to the weights of the tokens, means rotatablymounted on the oscillatory member and operable by the rolling tokens asthey are received by said oscillatory member for clamping the same tosaid oscillatory member, means positioned at a predetermined spacedpoint along the arc of; movement of said oscillatory member operatingsaid clamping means to release and pass a token ofpredetermined weightfrom said oscillatory member, and means positioned at otherpredetermined spaced points along the arc of movement of saidoscillatorymember for operating said clamping means, to release and reject tokensdiffering from said predetermined weight.

9, Ina coin detector, an oscillatory lever, the amplitude of oscillationof which is determined by the weight of a token, a token receptacleshiftably mounted on said oscillatory lever and having means to engage atoken as it moves into; said receptacle to clamp the token to theoscillatory lever, means positioned at spaced points along the path ofmovement of said oscillatory lever for Operating said clamping meansupon backward oscillation of said lever to release tokens at the saidspaced points in accordance with theweights of said tokens, and meansfor passing, from said oscillatory lever tokens of the proper weight inone direction and means for directing tokens of difierent weights inanother direction.

10. In a coin detector, means for receiving and causing tokens to rollby gravity along a predetermined path, a counterweighted lever in saidpath to receive the rolling tokens, the counterweighting of said leverbeing such as to allow tokens of a weight substantially less than apredetermined standard to pass over the lever and to cause downwardpivoting of the counterweighted lever under tokens more closelyapproximating the standard weight whereby to cause the last mentionedtokens to roll downwardly from the counterweighted lever, an oscillatorylever having a token receptacle in position to receive tokens rollingdownwardly from the counterweighted lever upon pivoting of saidcounterweighted lever, said oscillatory lever being operable by saidtokens arcuate distances which vary in accordance with the weights ofthe tokens, means shiitably mounted on the oscillatory lever andoperable by a rolling token for clamping the same in said receptacle,means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along the arc ofmovement of said oscillatory lever for operating said clamping meansupon backward oscillation of said oscillatory lever to release and passa standard weight token from said token receptacle, and means positionedat other predetermined, spaced points along the arc of movement of saidoscillatory lever for operating said clamping means upon backwardoscillation of said oscillatory lever to release and reject tokens ofweights difiering slightly from said predetermined weight.

11. In a coin detector, token directing means providing a receivingchannel, an operating channel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum havinga token receptacle, a counter-weighted lever between the receivingchannel and a portion of the rejecting channel, said counter-weightedlever having a surface aligned with the receiving channel across whichsurface tokens outside a predetermined weight range pass to therejecting channel, said counter-weighted lever being disposed above thependulum and pivotal under the weight of a token within thepredetermined weight range to cause upon pivoting of the lever suchtoken to roll in a predetermined direction of rotation into the tokenreceptacle, means pivotally mounted on the pendulum and pivoted relativeto the pendulum bythe rolling token to clamp the token to the pendulum,means positioned at spaced points along an arc of movement of saidpendulum for operating said clamping means upon backward oscillation ofsaid pendulum to release tokens at said spaced points in accordance withthe weight of said tokens, means for receiving tokens of a predeterminedweight from said pendulum for directing the same to said operatingchannel, and means receiving tokens of weights differing from saidpredetermined weight for directing said tokens to said rejectingchannel.

12. In a coin detector, a first channel for passing tokens of apredetermined weight, a second channel for rejecting tokens of difierentweights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to form a tokenreceptacle, means for causing tokens to roll into said receptacle, amember rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having an annular tokenreceiving channel within" said opening, an edge of said channel beingdisposed within said opening to engage the rim of the token rolling intothe receptacle to cause rotation of said member relative to the pendulumwhereby a portion of the channel closes the mouth of the opening formingthe token receptacle to clamp the token in the receptacle, meanspositioned at a predetermined point along the arc of movement of saidpendulum for rotating said member relative to the pendulum upon backwardoscillation of the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel fromthe mouth of the token receptacle, whereby to release a token ofpredetermined weight from said pendulum and direct the same to saidfirst channel, and means positioned at other predetermined points spacedfrom the first point along the arc of movement of said pendulum forrotating said member relative to the pendulum upon backward oscillationof the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouthof the token receptacle whereby to release tokens of weights differingfrom said predetermined weight and direct the same to said secondchannel.

JOHN F. LINDBERG

